NOVICE INFORMATION
Beginning Wrestlers & Parents

Credit and thanks to Rochester Adams Wrestling Team for putting this information together!

Weight Classes

• There are 14 weight classes in H.S. Wrestling, also called Folk Style wrestling.  Freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling other types of wrestling

o High School  Weight Classes:  103, 112, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 152, 160, 171, 189, 215, & 275

o The minimum weight that a wrestler can wrestle at is at a 7% body fat level.  This weight is determined at the beginning of the season by his "Alpha" weigh-in. See the nutrition page for more information.

o Normally, wrestlers will be required to weigh-in after 3pm the day before a meet or a tournament. Some tournaments require weigh-in's the same day.

What is a wrestling match?

• H.S. matches are 3, two minute periods with each wrestler contributing to the teams score in a dual meet.  1st OT period is 2 minutes, the 2nd, 30 second.

o Individual match points are normally scored by;

o Taking Down your opponent from the neutral or standing position - 2 pts.

o Escaping the control of your opponent - 1 pt

o Reversing control - 2 pts

o Pinning or attempting to pin your opponent

§ A pin is forcing your opponents shoulder blades to the mat for 2 full seconds - 2 or 3 pts are awarded for "almost" pinning your opponent.

• Team points are scored as follows:

o Decision - 3 pts.  Winning by less than 8 points

o Major Decision - 4 pts. Winning by 8 to 14 pts.

o Technical Fall - 5 pts. Winning by 15 points.  The match stops at 15.

o Pinning your opponent, or Fall points - 6 pts.

• Team Tournament Scoring  scoring varies widely.

o  Most tournaments award advancement points for winning and then "extra" points for

§ Major Decisions

§ Technical Falls

§ Pins

o Typical scoring is:

§ 1 or 2 points for advancing

§ 1, 1.5, or 2 points for MD, Tech, and Pins respectively.  

o Placing in the finals is were the "big" points are with winners being awarded 10 to 30 points depending on place and size of the tournament.

• Starting a wrestling Match:  Wrestlers begin on their feet, facing each other. 

o This is called the neutral position.  From this position, each wrestler tries to take down his opponent down to the mat.  If he does and gains control he is awarded a 2 point take down. 

o If a wrestler that is down, or under the control of his opponent  "escapes" from his opponents control, they resume at the neutral position and are awarded 1 point for the escape.

• The second period will begin with a coin toss.  The winner has the option of starting in the neutral position, starting down ( defense - under his opponent control ) or on top ( offense - in control of his opponent).  He can also defer the choice to his opponent and get his choice at the beginning of the third period. 
• The third period will begin by giving the loser of the 2nd period coin toss (or the coin toss winner if he deferred)  his choice of neutral, defense, offense (Up, Down, or Top) 

• Offense: The offense wrestler can only score by pinning or almost pinning the defense wrestler.  If the offense wrestler can push his opponents shoulder blades past 90^o to the mat for at least 2 seconds he is awarded 2 pts.  If he can maintain his opponents shoulder blades past 90^o to the mat for 5 or more seconds he is awarded 3 pts.
• Defense:  The defensive wrestler can score in two ways.  1) by reversing his opponent or gaining control. 2) by escaping the control of his opponent ( thus moving to the neutral position ).